TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - In a tight, hard-hitting struggle
that lived up to the legacy of one of college football's
most history-rich rivalries, the 8th-ranked University
of Alabama football team (7-1 overall; 4-1 in the
Southeastern Conference) used a clutch touchdown drive
by its offense and a staunch outing from its defense
to overcome a late deficit in a 19-14 win over Tennessee
(3-3 overall; 1-2 in the SEC) on Saturday afternoon before
a capacity crowd of 101,821 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

After Tennessee tailback Jalen Hurd ran 12 yards for a
touchdown with 5:49 left, the Tide offense responded with
a decisive 71-yard march to the end zone. Tide quarterback
Jake Coker completed key passes of 29 yards to wide
receiver ArDarius Stewart and 15 yards to wide receiver
Calvin Ridley on the drive that was punctuated by running
back Derrick Henry's tough running. Henry carried five
times for 35 yards on the winning drive, including the
game-winning 14-yard touchdown run with 2:24 left.

Henry rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, Stewart
had six catches for 114 yards, and Coker passed for 247
yards while completing 21-of-27 passes. Linebacker Reggie
Ragland led the Tide defense with a game-high 12 tackles
(eight solos), including a tackle for loss and punter
J.K. Scott averaged 49.8 yards on four punts, including
a 56-yarder.

Alabama broke on top early on a 20-yard touchdown run by
Henry with 7:14 left in the first quarter. The score
marked the 13th consecutive game in which Henry has scored
a rushing touchdown. Tennessee struck back to tie it at
7-7 on an 11-yard pass from quarterback Joshua Dobbs to
wide receiver Josh Smith with 3:00 left in the opening
period.

Tied at halftime, 7-7, Alabama broke on top on the first
possession of the second half by driving 73 yards in 12
plays to a 19-yard field goal by Adam Griffith for a 10-7
lead with 9:00 left in the third period.

Three Tennessee scoring opportunities ended in missed
field goals, a 43-yarder in the first quarter on the game's
first series, a 51-yarder on the final play of the first
half, and another 51-yarder with 14:06 left in the fourth
period. The first would have given the Vols a 3-0 lead,
the second would have given UT a 10-7 halftime lead, and
the third would have tied the game at 10-10 early in the
fourth quarter.

Taking the ball at the Tide 33 with 14:06 left in the
fourth period, Alabama moved 56 yards in 12 plays while
eating 6:58 of game time. A key sequence on the drive
began with a third-and-11 play at the UT 46 with 10:19
left. Coker completed a 15-yard pass to Stewart for a
first down at the UT 31. After a 10-yard penalty created
a first-and-20 at the UT 41, a pass to receiver Calvin
Ridley gained 26 yards to the UT 15. Ridley adjusted back
to the pass after being covered on the play, grabbing the
ball at the sideline and gaining several more yards after
the catch. Henry gained five yards on a rush at right
tackle to the Vol 10 on first down, then was dropped for
a loss of a yard on second down. On third-and-six at the
UT 11, Coker's fade pass to receiver Richard Mullaney was
incomplete in the end zone. That set up a 28-yard field
goal attempt by Griffith with 7:13 on the clock. Griffith
kicked it true to give the Tide a 13-7 lead with 7:08 left
in the fourth period.

Tennessee stormed back with authority to take a 14-13
lead, blazing 75 yards in four plays to take the lead on
a 12-yard run by tailback Jalen Hurd with 5:49 on the
clock. Dobbs connected with Smith for 27 yards on a
crossing patter to start the drive, reaching the Tide
48. Two plays later, Dobbs hit a slant pass to receiver
Josh Malone for 34 yards to the Tide 12. Hurd raced
around left end into the end zone on the next play.

Alabama responded on the ensuing possession. Facing 2nd
and 11 at the Tide 27, Coker completed a 27-yard pass to
Stewart at the UT 44 with 4:29 left. Stewart made an
acrobatic catch despite tight coverage. Henry gained two
yards at left guard to the UT 42 on first down, then
carried for two more to Vols 40. Facing third-and-six at
the 40, Coker lobbed a pass to Ridley at the left sideline
and Ridley made a leaping catch over a Tennessee defender
for a 15-yard gain to the Tennessee 25. Henry gained six
yards at right guard on first down to the UT 19. Tennessee
called its first timeout with 3:02 left. On second-and
four, Henry muscled up the middle for five yards to a
first down at the UT 14. With the clock running under
2:30, Henry took a handoff at left end and ran behind
good blocking for 14 yards and a touchdown with 2:24 left.
Leading by five points, Alabama went for a two-point
conversion. A pass to Ridley was incomplete, broken up by
Tennessee cornerback Justin Martin, and the Tide held a
19-14 lead with 2:24 left.

Tennessee took possession at its 25 following a touchback
on the kickoff. On the third play of the possession,
Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen sacked Dobbs for a
nine-yard loss at the UT 26. Facing a second-and-24 at
the UT 21 following a false start penalty, Dobbs was
sacked by Tide linebacker Ryan Anderson for a loss of
10 at the UT 11. Dobbs fumbled on the play and Alabama's
A'Shawn Robinson recovered at the UT 13. Robinson returned
the fumble nine yards to the UT 4 with 1:18 left. Coker
took a knee on three consecutive snaps to end the game.

Alabama will enjoy next weekend off from competition
before resuming its season on Saturday, Nov. 7, at
Bryant-Denny Stadium against the Louisiana State
University. Kickoff time is scheduled for 7:00 pm CT and
will be televised on CBS.